Women’s college up for Naac inspection

KHWAJA JAMAL IN MUZAFFARPUR

A three-member University Grants Commission team arrived in Muzaffarpur on Thursday for an inspection of Mahant Darshan Das Mahila College.

The team of National Assessment and Accreditation Council (Naac) would verify the available infrastructure at the college and teaching facilities during a three-day inspection of the college. The team would award the institute a grade following the inspection that would ensure it financial aid.

The education department, following directives of UGC, had asked vice-chancellors to prepare their constituent colleges for assessment by the Naac. The higher education regulator made it clear to the government that it would not be able to bestow financial aid to colleges without an evaluation.

Under the Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University, Muzaffarpur, two colleges were awarded “B” grade last year.

Proctor-cum-spokesperson of the university Ajay Kumar Srivastava told The Telegraph that principals have to furnish self-study reports and a letter of intent to the UGC for an inspection. Mahant Darshan Das Mahila College principal Nirmala Singh had sent a letter of intent in September last year.

The development officer of the university, Kalyan Kumar Jha, said the three-member peer team led by chairperson Sheila Ramchandran arrived for on-the-spot assessment of the self-study report forwarded to the UGC.

Earlier, state education department officials had conducted a mock inspection of the college to ensure the college gets a favourable grade from the Naac team.

English honours student Nigar Fatima said: “Wi-Fi facility has been launched on the campus. We also have an online library and an Internet room. The college has also hastily constituted an anti-ragging cell, sexual harassment cell and disciplinary committee. The canteen and cycle stand on the campus were also renovated overnight for a good impression before the Naac team.”